Woman who ran out of gas gets help from Neighbourhood Resource Team

While not in their job description, Neighbourhood Resource Team (NRT) officers were only too happy to help a stranded motorist one cold evening in December.

The driver recently wrote to Ottawa Police Service to thank the two officers who helped her on December 4^th, when she ran out of gas just metres away from the pumps at a gas station on Carling Avenue.

“Admittedly, I left filling up longer than I should have and then when I got stuck in traffic, it became so urgent, I had to pull off the Queensway on my way home,” said Karen, a local resident.

The officers pushed the vehicle so she could fill up and be on her way.

“I don’t usually let my tank to run so low,” said Karen. “This was a close call and I won’t let it happen again.”

Fortunately, she didn’t run out of gas in a remote area, which can be extremely dangerous at this time of year. Even a short walk in the cold, if you aren’t dressed for it, can cause hypothermia.

Ottawa Police offers the following tips to avoid a potentially life-threatening situation:

• Don’t let your gas gauge fall below half a tank. You may have to be in your vehicle longer than expected if roads are closed, blocked or you are re-routed, and a gas station stop isn’t an option when that happens. Even if you’re not faced with an unexpected delay, running low on gas during the winter months could leave you stranded in the cold. 
• Dress for the weather. Have appropriate outdoor clothing with you, in case you need to get out of your vehicle.
• Keep your phone charged. You don’t want your vehicle to go off the road or break down and not be able to call for help.
• Keep an emergency kit in your car. A blanket and a candle could save your life in a cold-weather breakdown.

For more winter driving safety tips, go to ottawapolice.ca